Digital camera and method of preventing image data from being erased from the digital camera

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a digital camera, which is designed such that a recording medium can be loaded thereon, the medium capable of recording photographed image data and prohibiting recorded image data from being erased. The digital camera includes an initialization instruction unit for instructing the loaded recording medium to initialize, and a notification unit for performing a predetermined notification operation for notifying execution of initialization. In the digital camera, the notification unit performs the predetermined notification operation when image data which is prohibited from being erased is recorded on the recording medium when the recording medium is instructed to initialize by the initialization instruction unit. When the recording medium on which the image data which is prohibited from being erased is recorded is loaded, and when the recording medium is instructed to initialize, the digital camera can prevent the image data from being inadvertently erased.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese PatentApplication No.2002-238147, the disclosure of which is incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera onto which a recordingmedium can be loaded, said medium capable of recording photographedimage data and prohibiting the recorded image data from being erased.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, with the increase in resolution of image pickupelements such as CCDs (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (ComplementaryMetal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors, the demand for digital camerashas been rapidly increasing.

In such digital cameras, in general, image data obtained through animage pickup element by photographing is recorded on a portablerecording medium loaded in the digital camera. In recent years, severaltypes of digital cameras that are configured to accommodate varioustypes of recording media have been manufactured.

Portable recording media that can be used in digital cameras of thistype include many types of recording media such as Smart Media(Trademark), SD (Secure Digital) cards, memory sticks, Compact Flash(Trademark), and Microdrives are known. These recording media areprovided with the following features in order to prevent recordedinformation from being erroneously erased.

The SD card and the memory stick have write-protect switches. When theswitch is set to write-protect, recorded data is prevented from beingerroneously erased. Furthermore, a write-protect seal is stuck on SmartMedia, hence recorded data can be prevented from being erroneouslyerased.

A technology for preventing recorded data on an IC memory card frombeing erroneously erased is known (see Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open (JP-A) No. 2001-22913) in which a write-protect terminal,which can prevent data from being written by sticking an insulatingsheet, is arranged on an IC memory card.

These technologies are used to simultaneously prevent all pieces of dataon a recording medium from being erroneously erased. In a digital cameraonto which these recording media can be loaded, when the loadedrecording medium is set in an erroneous erase protect state, new data isnot recorded on the recording medium, and recorded data is not erased asa matter of course. In addition, the digital camera is designed not toinitialize (also referred to as “format” in this specification) therecording medium.

In addition to the above-mentioned technology for simultaneouslypreventing all pieces of data recorded on the recording medium frombeing erroneously erased, a technology for preventing data recorded asunits of files from being erroneously erased is known. That is, arecording medium is designed such that a read-only attribute can be setfor each file. The read-only attribute is set for only a file to beprohibited from being erased, so that the data is prevented from beingerroneously erased as units of files. In this technology, the recordingmedium is initialized and all the pieces of information are erasedregardless of the settings of the read-only attributes.

However, in some recording media such as Microdrive, simultaneousprevention of all pieces of recorded data from being erroneously erasedhas not been achieved, and only prevention of erroneous erasing in unitsof files can be performed by the read-only attributes.

Therefore, if a digital camera is designed such that a recording mediaof this type can be loaded, when the loaded recording medium isinstructed to initialize, all pieces of data are erased, regardless ofthe settings of read-only attributes.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. Thepresent invention provides a digital camera onto which a recordingmedium, which has image data set to be prohibited from being erased isrecorded, is loaded and which can prevent the image data from beinginadvertently erased when the recording medium is instructed toinitialize. Further, the invention provides a method for preventingerasure in the digital camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect ofthe invention, there is provided a digital camera onto which a recordingmedium can be loaded, said medium capable of recording photographed dataand prohibiting the recorded image data from being erased, comprising:an initialization instruction unit for instructing the loaded recordingmedium to initialize; and a notification unit for performing apredetermined notification operation for notifying execution ofinitialization, wherein the notification unit performs the predeterminednotification operation when the recording medium is instructed toinitialize by the initialization instruction unit, if image data, whichis prohibited from being erased, is recorded on the recording medium.

In this manner, in the digital camera according to the first aspect ofthe invention, when the recording medium is instructed to initialize bythe initialization instruction unit, when image data, which isprohibited from being erased, is recorded on the recording medium, thepredetermined notification operation is performed.

As the notification operation performed by the notification unit, anynotification operation performed to cause a user execute initializationand described below can be applied. That is, when a display unit such asa liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or a plasma display isarranged on the digital camera of the invention, a notificationoperation is performed such that a message representing thatinitialization will be executed to the recording medium is displayed bythe display unit. When a buzzer is arranged in the digital camera, anotification operation is performed by ringing the buzzer. When a lampsuch as an LED is arranged in the digital camera, a notificationoperation is performed by turning on the lamp or flickering. When avoice generating device is arranged in the digital camera, anotification operation is performed such that a message representingthat initialization will be executed to the recording medium ispronounced by the voice generating device. The recording medium includesany portable recording medium such as a Smart Media, an SD card, amemory stick, a Compact Flash (Trademark), and a Microdrive in whichrecording information can be prohibited from being erased.

More specifically, in the digital camera according to the first aspectof the invention, when the loaded recording medium is instructed toinitialize, and image data prohibited from being erased is recorded onthe recording medium, the digital camera urges a user to confirm whetherthe initialization is reliably executed prior to execution of theinitialization. Therefore, the image data which is prohibited from beingerased can be prevented from being easily erased by initialization.

In this manner, in the digital camera according to the first aspect ofthe invention, when the recording medium is instructed to initialize bythe initialization instruction unit, if image data, which is prohibitedfrom being erased, is recorded on the recording medium, thepredetermined notification operation is performed. For this reason, whenthe recording medium is loaded, said medium capable of recording theimage data, which is prohibited from being erased and the recordingmedium is instructed to initialize, the image data can be prevented frombeing inadvertently erased.

On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, according tothe second aspect of the invention, there is provided a digital camera,onto which a recording medium can be loaded, said medium capable ofrecording photographed data and prohibiting the recorded image data frombeing erased, comprising: an initialization instruction unit forinstructing the loaded recording medium to initialize; a storage unitwhich can store the image data; and an initialization unit forinitializing the recording medium, wherein, when the recording medium isinstructed to initialize by the initialization instruction unit, ifimage data which is recorded on the recording medium is prohibited frombeing erased, the image data which is prohibited from being erased isstored in the storage unit, after which, the initialization unitinitializes the recording medium, and then, the image data stored in thestorage unit is recorded onto the recording medium.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect of the invention,when the recording medium is instructed to initialize by theinitialization instruction unit, if image data which is recorded on therecording medium is prohibited from being erased, the image data whichis prohibited from being erased is stored in the storage unit, and theinitialization unit initializes the recording medium. For this reason,when the recording medium, which is capable of recording the image dataand prohibiting recorded image data from being erased, is loaded, andwhen the recording medium is instructed to initialize, the image datacan be prevented from being inadvertently erased. The storage unitincludes various storage elements such as a RAM (Random Access Memory),an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), anda Flash EEPROM.

More specifically, in the invention, when the recording medium isinstructed to initialize by the initialization instruction unit, ifimage data which is recorded on the recording medium is prohibited frombeing erased, the image data which is prohibited from being erased isstored (backup) in the storage unit, and the initialization unitinitializes the recording medium. Therefore, even though all the piecesof information on the recording medium are lost by initializing therecording medium, the image data which is prohibited from being erasedis left in the storage unit.

In the invention, the image data stored (backup) in the storage unit isstored (returned) to the recording medium after the recording medium isinitialized. Accordingly, the image data, which is prohibited from beingerased, does not appear to be erased.

In this manner, in the digital camera according to the second aspect ofthe invention, when the recording medium is instructed to initialize bythe initialization instruction unit, if image data which is recorded onthe recording medium is prohibited from being erased, the image datawhich is prohibited from being erased is stored in the storage unit, andthe initialization unit initializes the recording medium. For thisreason, when the recording medium on which the image data which isprohibited from being erased is recorded is loaded and the recordingmedium is instructed to initialize, the image data can be prevented frombeing inadvertently erased.

According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of preventing image data from being erased in a digital camera,which is configured such that a recording medium can be loaded, saidmedium capable of recording photographed image data and prohibitingrecorded image data from being erased, comprising: a step of instructingthe loaded recording medium to initialize; and a step of performing apredetermined notification operation on the basis of the initializationinstruction when image data which is prohibited from being erased isrecorded on the recording medium.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of preventing image data from being erased in a digital cameraonto which a recording medium can be loaded, said medium capable ofrecording photographed image data and prohibiting recorded image datafrom being erased, and which has a storage unit which can store theimage data, comprising: a step of instructing the loaded recordingmedium to initialize; a step of storing image data, which is prohibitedfrom being erased, in the storage unit on the basis of theinitialization instruction of the recording medium when the image datarecorded on the recording medium is prohibited from being erased, a stepof initializing the recording medium; and a step of recording the imagedata stored in the storage unit onto the recording medium.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of preventing image data from being erased in a digital camera,onto which a recording medium can be loaded, said medium capable ofrecording photographed image data and prohibiting the recorded imagedata from being erased, and which has a storage unit which can store theimage data, comprising: a step of instructing the loaded recordingmedium to initialize; a step of determining whether all pieces of imagedata, which are prohibited from being erased, can be stored in thestorage unit on the basis of the initialization instruction of therecording medium if image data is prohibited from being erased; and astep of performing a predetermined notification operation when thedetermination result is negative, wherein the determination is performedsuch that, after an unused capacity of the storage unit is detected andcapacities of the pieces of image data, which are prohibited from beingerased, are added to each other, the value of the added volumes and thetotal amount of unused capacity are compared with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an outline view showing the appearance of a digital camera 10according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration of the electric system ofthe digital camera 10 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a pattern diagram showing the configuration of a recordingarea of a memory card 82 according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are a flow chart showing a flow of processes of apower-on processing program according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A is a schematic view showing a display of a reproduction modemenu screen, and FIG. 5B is a schematic view showing a display of aformat check screen.

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are a flow chart showing a flow of processes of apower-on processing program according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a flow of processes of a formatprocessing program according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 1, a seeming configuration of a digital camera 10according to this embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG.1, in front of the digital camera 10, a lens 21 for forming an objectimage, an electronic flash 62 for emitting light irradiated on an objectif necessary in photographing, and a viewfinder 88 used to determine apicture composition of an object to be photographed are arranged. On theupper surface of the digital camera 10, a release button (so-calledshutter) 92 depressed by a user in execution of photographing and apower switch 94 are arranged.

The release button 92 of the digital camera 10 according to theembodiment is designed such that a depressing operation of two steps,i.e., a step in which the release button 92 is depressed to anintermediate position (to be referred to as a half depression statehereinafter) and a step in which the release button 92 is depressed tothe final depression position being deeper than the intermediateposition (to be referred to as a full depression state hereinafter) canbe detected. In the digital camera 10, after the release button 92 ishalf depressed to operate an AE (Automatic Exposure) function to set anexposure state (shutter speed and the state of the aperture) an AF (AutoFocus) function is operated to control a focusing operation. Thereafter,the release button 92 is fully depressed, exposure (photographing) isperformed.

On the other hand, on the back of the digital camera 10, the eyepieceunit of the viewfinder 88, a liquid crystal display (to be referred toas an “LCD” hereinafter) 44 for displaying an object image displayed byphotographed digital image data, various menu screens, messages, and thelike, a mode change switch 96 which is slidably operated by a user whenany one of a photographing mode serving as a mode for performingphotographing and a reproduction mode serving as a mode for displaying(reproducing) an object image shown by photographed digital image dataon the LCD 44 is set, a crosswise cursor button 98 which is designed toinclude a total of five keys constituted by four arrow keys indicatingmoving directions of up, down, left, and right in the display area ofthe LCD 44 and a determination key positioned at a center of the fourarrow keys, and a forcible light-emitting switch 99 which is depressedby a user when a forcible light-emitting mode serving as a mode forforcibly causing the electronic flash 62 to emit light in subsequentphotographing.

The configuration of the electric system of the digital camera 10according to the embodiment will be described below with reference toFIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 includes an optical unit 22including the lens 21, a charge coupled device (to be referred to as a“CCD” hereinafter) 24 arranged behind the lens 21 along the opticalaxis, an analog signal processing unit 26 including a correlated doublesampling circuit (to be referred to as a “CDS” hereinafter), ananalog/digital converter (to be referred to as an “ADC” hereinafter) 28for converting an input analog signal into digital data, and a digitalsignal processing unit 30, having a line buffer having a predeterminedcapacity, for performing control for directly storing the input digitalimage data in a predetermined area of a memory 72 (will be describedlater) and for performing various digital image processing operations tothe digital image data.

A correlated double sampling process performed by the CDS obtainsaccurate pixel data by calculating a difference between a field throughcomponent level and a pixel signal component level included in an outputsignal of each pixel of a solid-state image pickup element to reducenoise or the like (especially, thermal noise) included in an outputsignal of the solid-state image pickup element.

On the other hand, the digital camera 10 includes an LCD interface 42for generating a signal for displaying an image, a menu screen, or thelike shown by digital image data on the LCD 44 to supply the signal tothe LCD 44, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50 for controlling theentire operation of the digital camera 10, a memory 72 constituted by aVRAM (Video RAM) for storing digital image data mainly obtained byphotographing, a memory interface 70 for performing control of an accessto the memory 72, an external memory interface 80 for enabling thedigital camera 10 to access a memory card 82 constituted by a CompactFlash, and a compression/expansion process circuit 86 for performing acompression process to digital image data by a predetermined compressionformat and for performing an expansion process to the digital image datasubjected to the compression process depending on the compressionformat.

The digital signal processing unit 30, the LCD interface 42, the CPU 50,the memory interface 70, the external memory interface 80, and thecompression/expansion process circuit 86 are connected to each otherthrough a system BUS. Therefore, the CPU 50 can control the operationsof the digital signal processing unit 30 and the compression/expansionprocess circuit 86, can display various pieces of information on the LCD44 through the LCD interface 42, and can access the memory 72 and thememory card 82 through the memory interface 70 and the external memoryinterface 80.

On the other hand, the digital camera 10 comprises a timing generator 32for generating a timing signal for mainly driving the CCD 24 to supplythe timing signal to the CCD 24. The drive of the CCD 24 is controlledby the CPU 50 via the timing generator 32.

The digital camera 10 further comprises a motor drive unit 34. Thedrives of a focus adjustment motor, a zoom motor, and an aperture drivemotor which are arranged in the optical unit 22 are also controlled bythe CPU 50 via the motor drive unit 34.

More specifically, the lens 21 included in the optical unit 22 accordingto the embodiment has a plurality of lenses, is constituted as a zoomlens which can change the focal length (variable power), and comprises,a lens drive mechanism (not shown). The lens drive mechanism includesthe focus adjustment motor, the zoom motor, and the aperture drivemotor. These motors are driven by drive signals supplied from the motordrive unit 34 under the control of the CPU 50.

The CPU 50 drives and controls the zoom motor when an optical zoommagnification is changed, and changes the focal length of the lens 21included in the optical unit 22.

The CPU 50 drives and controls the focus adjustment motor such that acontrast of an photographed image performed by the CCD 24 is to maximum,thereby controlling a focusing operation. More specifically, in thedigital camera 10 according to the embodiment, as a scheme forcontrolling a focusing operation, a so-called TTL (Through The Lens)scheme which sets a lens position to maximum a contrast of a read imageis employed.

In addition, the various buttons and switches (generically called as“operation unit 90” in FIG. 2) such as the release button 92, the powerswitch 94, the mode change switch 96, the crosswise cursor button 98,and the forcible light-emitting switch 99 are connected to the CPU 50.The CPU 50 can always comprehend an operation state for the operationunit 90.

The digital camera 10 further comprises an electrical charging unit 60,interposed between the electronic flash 62 and the CPU 50, for chargingpower for causing the electronic flash 62 to emit light under thecontrol of the CPU 50. In addition, the electronic flash 62 is alsoconnected to the CPU 50, and light emission of the electronic flash 62is controlled by the CPU 50.

On the other hand, FIG. 3 typically shows recording areas of the memorycard 82 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the recordingareas of the memory card 82 are roughly classified into a managementarea A1 and a data area A2.

The management area A1 has a reservation area 82A for managing files, anFAT (File Allocation Table) 82B, an FAT 82C having the same contents asthose of the FAT 82B, and a directory 82D. The two FATs are prepared forthe safety of data. In contrast to this, in the data area A2, data suchas digital image data to be recorded is recorded in units of files.

An access unit of the data area A2 is called a cluster. The cluster isconstituted by a predetermined number of serial sectors. The data areaA2 is divided into clusters each having a predetermined data size, and ause state of a specific cluster can be known by a corresponding FATentry. One file data is constituted by one cluster or a plurality ofclusters depending on the data size.

The recording contents in an area in which no data is recorded aregenerally buried with ‘0’ or ‘F’ of in hexadecimal (‘15’ in decimal).However, it is assumed in the following description that the recordingcontents are buried with ‘F’ in hexadecimal.

The FAT 82B is a map for indicating a storage position of the file. Themap shows clusters on which the files are recorded and an order of thefiles. The FAT has entries corresponding to the respective clusters.When a file cannot be stored in one cluster, the entry number of thecluster next to the cluster in which the file is stored is recorded onan entry of the FAT. When a FAT entry is not ‘0’, the clustercorresponding to the FAT entry is used. When a FAT entry is ‘0’, thecluster corresponding to the FAT entry is not used.

On the other hand, on the directory 82D, a file name, an attribute, adate on which the file is created or on which the file is recentlyupdated, the start FAT entry of the file, a file size, and the like arerecorded for each file. The attributes indicate the type of a filerepresented by a corresponding file name. With respect to a file whichis designated as a read-only file by a user, as the attribute of thisfile, ‘R’ representing a read-only attribute is recorded. The files towhich the read-only attributes are set are prohibited from being erasedin units of files. In this manner, the setting of image data erasingprohibition can be performed in units of photographed images.

Since a technology for managing recording media by directories and FATsis generally known, a further description thereof will be omitted.

The digital camera 10 according to the embodiment has functions forexecuting various processes such as a format process for formatting(corresponding to “initialization” in the invention) the loaded memorycard 82 when the reproduction mode is set and a protect mode process forpreventing the recorded contents of the data area A2 in the memory card82 from being erased. A user designates a desired process on areproduction mode menu screen (also see FIG. 5A) (to be described later)displayed on the LCD 44 to cause the digital camera 10 to execute thedesired process.

The digital camera 10 according to the embodiment is designed such thatphotographed digital image data is recorded in the data area A2 of thememory card 82 in units of files. The protect mode process includes twotypes of modes, i.e., a “1-frame protect” mode which prohibits imagefiles recorded in the data area A2 of the memory card 82 from beingerased in units of image files and an “all-frame protect” mode whichsimultaneously prohibits all image files recorded in the data area A2from being erased.

The memory card 82 corresponds to the recording medium according to theembodiment, the crosswise cursor button 98 corresponds to aninitialization instruction unit according to the embodiment, and the CPU50 corresponds to a notification unit according to the embodiment. Therecording medium according to the embodiment has image erasureprohibition information for an image to which prohibition of erasure ofimage data is set.

The operation of the digital camera 10 according to this embodiment willbe described below. The entire operation of the digital camera 10 in aphotographing state will be briefly described below.

An image pickup operation is performed by the CCD 24 through the opticalunit 22, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) signals representing an objectimage are sequentially output to the analog signal processing unit 26.The analog signal processing unit 26 performs analog signal processingsuch as correlated double sampling process to the signals input from theCCD 24, and the resultant signals are sequentially output to the ADC 28.The ADC 28 converts the R, G, and B signals input from the analog signalprocessing unit 26 into 12-bit R, G, and B signals (digital image data)and sequentially output the 12-bit R, G, and B signals to the digitalsignal processing unit 30. The digital signal processing unit 30accumulates the digital image data sequentially input from the ADC 28into the built-in line buffer and temporarily stored in a predeterminedarea of the memory 72.

The digital image data stored in the predetermined area of the memory 72are read by the digital signal processing unit 30 under the control ofthe CPU 50. These digital image data are subjected to a digital gaindepending on a predetermined physical quantity to perform white balanceadjustment. A gamma process and a sharpness process are performed to thedigital image data to generate 8-bit digital image data. Furthermore, YCsignal processing is performed to the resultant digital image data togenerate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (to bereferred to as YC signals hereinafter). The YC signals are stored in anarea different from the predetermined area of the memory 72.

The LCD 44 is designed to be used as a viewfinder which displays a video(through images) obtained by serial image pickup operations performed bythe CCD 24. However, when the LCD 44 is used as a viewfinder asdescribed above, generated YC signals are sequentially output to the LCD44 through the LCD interface 42. In this manner, the through images aredisplayed on the LCD 44.

At this time, when the release button 92 is half depressed by a user,after the AE function operates to set an exposure state as describedabove, the AF function operates to control a focusing operation.Thereafter, when the release button 92 is fully depressed, the YCsignals stored in the memory 72 at this time are compressed in apredetermined compression format (JPEG format in the embodiment) by thecompression/expansion process circuit 86 and then recorded on the memorycard 82 through the external memory interface 80, thereby performing aphotographing operation.

A power-on process executed by the digital camera 10 according to thisembodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B.FIGS. 4A and 4B give a flow chart showing a flow of processes of apower-on processing program executed by the CPU 50 of the digital camera10 when the power switch 94 is set in an ON state. In this case, a casein which the memory card 82 on which an image file is recorded is loadedon the digital camera 10 will be described below.

In step 200 in FIG. 4A, the CPU 50 determines whether a reproductionmode is set by the operation of the mode change switch 96 performed by auser. When the determination result is negative in step 200, the CPU 50regards that a photographing mode is set to shift and shifts to step 202to perform a process in a normal photographing mode. On the other hand,when the determination result is affirmative in step 200, the CPU 50shifts to step 204 to perform various initial settings for areproduction mode and then shifts to step 206.

In the initial settings in step 204, a process of displaying, on the LCD44, an object image represented by an image file (for example, the filewith the most recently updated or the most recently created filerecorded in the directory 82D) complying with a predetermined rule ofimage files recorded on the loaded memory card 82 is also performed. Thedisplayed object image can be arbitrarily changed into an object imagerepresented by another image file recorded on the memory card 82 byoperating the crosswise cursor button 98.

In step 206, the LCD interface 42 is controlled such that apredetermined reproduction mode menu screen is displayed on the LCD 44by using an OSD (On Screen Display) function. The CPU 50 waits for aninput of predetermined information in the next step 208.

FIG. 5A shows the reproduction mode menu screen displayed on the LCD 44by the process in step 206. As shown in FIG. 5A, in the reproductionmode menu screen according to the embodiment, a message for urging auser to designate a desired process is displayed, and various processnames such as the “protect mode process” and the “format process” aredisplayed as process which can be designated. As the protect modeprocess according to the embodiment, as described above, two types ofprocesses, i.e., the “1-frame protect” process and the “all-frameprotect” process are prepared as described above. These names of theprocesses are also displayed on the menu screen. In addition, on themenu screen, in order to clarify a designation state by a user,rectangle frames representing the presence or absence of designation forprocesses are displayed.

In the embodiment, since the reproduction mode menu screen is displayedon the LCD 44 by an OSD function, the menu screen is displayed such thatthe menu screen overlaps an object image displayed on the LCD 44.However, in FIG. 5A, the object image is graphically omitted to avoidthe drawing from being complicated.

When the reproduction mode menu screen as shown in FIG. 5A is displayedon the LCD 44, a user designates a desired process by operating thearrow keys of the crosswise cursor button 98 and then depresses andoperates the determination key of the crosswise cursor button 98.Accordingly, information representing that the determination key isoperated is input to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 determines an affirmativeresult in step 208 and shifts to step 210. FIG. 5A shows a state inwhich a format process is designated by a user.

In step 210, the CPU 50 determines whether a process designated by auser on the reproduction mode menu screen is the protect mode process(“1-frame protect” or “all-frame protect” process). When thedetermination result is negative in step 210, the CPU 50 shifts to step212 to determine whether the protect mode process designated by the useris the 1-frame protect mode process. When the determination result isaffirmative in step 212, the CPU 50 shifts to step 214.

In step 214, CPU 50 determines whether a read-only attribute is set inan image file (in the embodiment, image file corresponding to an objectimage displayed on the LCD 44 at this time) to be processed, therebydetermines whether the protect is set in the image file. When thedetermination result is affirmative in step 214, the CPU 50 shifts tostep 216 to cancel the read-only attribute of the image file to cancelthe protect of the image file. Thereafter, the CPU 50 returns to step200. When the determination result is negative in step 214, the CPU 50shifts to step 218 to set a read-only attribute to the image file to setthe protect of the image file. Thereafter, the CPU 50 returns to step200.

More specifically, in the 1-frame protect process in the embodiment,when protect has been set in an image file to be processed, the protectis canceled. In contrast to this, when no protect is set in the imagefile, protect is set in the image file.

On the other hand, when the determination result is negative in step212, the CPU 50 regards the protect mode process designated by the useras the all-frame protect process to shift to step 220.

In step 220, the CPU 50 determines whether the all-frame protect modehas been set by determining whether read-only attributes are set in allimage files recorded on the loaded memory card 82. When thedetermination result is affirmative instep 220, the CPU 50 shifts tostep 222 to cancel the read-only attributes of all the image filesrecorded on the memory card 82 to cancel the protects of all the imagefiles. Thereafter the CPU 50 returns to step 200. When the determinationresult is negative in step 220, the CPU 50 shifts to step 224 to setread-only attributes in all the image files to set protects of all theimage files. Thereafter the CPU 50 returns to step 200 described above.

More specifically, in the all-frame protect process according to theembodiment, when protects have been set in all image files recorded onthe memory card 82, all the protects are canceled. In contrast to this,when protects are not set in all the image files, protects are set inall the image files.

On the other hand, when the determination result is negative in step210, the CPU 50 shifts to step 226.

In step 226, when the CPU 50 determines whether a process designated bya user on the reproduction mode menu screen is a format process. Whenthe determination result is affirmative in step 226, the CPU 50 shiftsto step 228 to read the attributes of all the image files recorded onthe memory card 82 from the directory 82D of the memory card 82.

In the next step 230, the CPU 50 determines whether an image file inwhich a protect is set is stored in the memory card 82 by determiningwhether the read attributes include a read-only attribute. When thedetermination result is affirmative in step 230, the CPU 50 shifts tostep 232 to control the LCD interface 42 such that a predeterminedformat check screen is displayed on the LCD 44. In the next step 234,the CPU 50 waits for an input of predetermined information.

FIG. 5B shows the format check screen displayed on the LCD 44 by theprocess in step 232. As shown in FIG. 5B, on the format check screen inthe embodiment, a message representing that the image file in which aprotect is set is stored in the memory card 82 and a message for urginga user to perform an input for determining whether format can beexecuted are displayed, and an expression representing “YES” which isdesignated when the format may be executed and an expressionrepresenting “NO” which is designated when the format may not beexecuted are displayed together with a rectangular frame representingthe presence or absence of designation.

When a format check screen as shown in FIG. 5B is displayed on the LCD44, a user designates “YES” or “NO” by operating the arrow keys of thecrosswise cursor button 98 and then depresses and operates thedetermination key of the crosswise cursor button 98. Accordingly,information representing that the determination key has been operated isinput to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 determines an affirmative result in step234 to shift to step 236. In FIG. 5B, a state in which “YES”representing that the formatting may be performed is designated by theuser is shown.

In step 236, the CPU 50 determines whether “YES” is designated by theuser on the format check screen to determine whether the loaded memorycard 82 will be formatted. When the determination result is affirmativein step 236, the CPU 50 shifts to step 238 to format the memory card 82and then returns to step 200. When the determination result is negativein step 236, the CPU 50 returns to step 200 without executing theprocess in step 238.

On the other hand, when the determination result is negative in step226, a process (process except for the “protect mode process” and the“format process”) designated by the user on the reproduction mode menuscreen is executed. Thereafter, the CPU 50 returns to step 200.

As described above, in the digital camera 10 according to theembodiment, when instruction information for instructing the loadedmemory card 82 to initialize (format) is input, a notificationrepresenting that initialization depending on the instructioninformation will be executed is made when an image file which isprohibited from being erased is recorded on the memory card 82. For thisreason, when the memory card 82 on which the image file which isprohibited from being erased is recorded is loaded and the memory card82 is instructed to initialize, the image file can be prevented frombeing inadvertently erased.

The embodiment describes the case in which, as a notification operationrepresenting that initialization will be executed, a notification madeby displaying a message representing that the initialization will beexecuted to the memory card 82 on the LCD 44 is applied. However, theinvention is not limited to this configuration. For example, anynotification such as a notification by ringing a buzzer, a notificationby turning on or flickering of a lamp, a notification by causing a voicegeneration device to pronounce a message representing thatinitialization will be executed to a recording medium, or the like whichcan notify a user that the initialization will be executed can beapplied. In these cases, the same effect as in the embodiment can beachieved.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment of the invention will be described below. Sincethe configuration of a digital camera according to the second embodimentis the same as that of the digital camera 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2)according to the first embodiment, a description thereof will beomitted.

The memory card 82 corresponds to a recording medium of the embodiment,the crosswise cursor button 98 corresponds to an initializationinstruction unit according to the embodiment, the memory 72 correspondsto the storage unit according to the embodiment and the CPU 50corresponds to an initialization unit according to the embodiment.

A power-on process executed by the digital camera 10 according to theembodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.FIGS. 6A and 6B give a flow chart showing a flow of processes of apower-on processing program executed by the CPU 50 of the digital camera10 according to the second embodiment when the power switch 94 is set inan ON state. The same step numbers as in FIGS. 4A and 4B denote thesteps of performing the same processes in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and adescription thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the power-on process according to thesecond embodiment is different from the power-on process according tothe first embodiment in only that a formatting process (see FIG. 7) instep 240 is applied in place of the processes in steps 228 to 238 inFIG. 4B. The format process will be described below with reference toFIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a flow of processes of the formatprocessing program executed by the CPU 50 of the digital camera 10 whenthe format process is executed.

In step 300 in FIG. 7, the attributes of all the image files recorded onthe loaded memory card 82 are read from the directory 82D of the memorycard 82.

In the next step 302, the CPU 50 determines whether an image file inwhich a protect is set is stored in the memory card 82 by determiningwhether the read attributes include a read-only attribute. When thedetermination result is negative in step 302, the CPU 50 shifts to step304 to format the memory card 82 and then end this format process, andthe CPU 50 returns to step 200 (also see FIGS. 6A and 6B).

On the other hand, when the determination result is affirmative in step302, the CPU 50 shifts to step 306 to detect an unused capacity(remaining storage capacity) of the memory 72. In the next step 308,file sizes of all the image files in which read-only attributes are setas attributes read in step 300 are read from the directory 82D of thememory card 82 and added to each other, and, on the basis of the valueof the added capacities and the total unused capacity of the memory 72detected instep 306, the CPU 50 determines whether all the image filesin which protects are set can be stored (backup) in the memory 72. Whenthe determination result is affirmative in step 308, the CPU 50 shiftsto step 310 to store all the image files in which protects are set arestored (backup) in the unused capacity of the memory 72, and then shiftsto step 316.

When the determination result is negative in step 308, the CPU 50 shiftsto step 312 and selects an image file to be backup to the memory 72 fromthe image files in which protects are set on the basis of apredetermined priority order. In the next step 314, the selected imagefile is stored (backup) in the unused capacity of the memory 72.Thereafter, the CPU 50 shifts to step 316. As a method of selecting animage file in step 312, the following two methods will be exemplified.

-   1. With respect to all the image files in which protects are set,    information representing dates on which the files are created or    recently updated is read from the directory 82D of the memory card    82, and image files which can be stored in the memory 72 are    selected prioritizing a new image file.-   2. With respect to all the image files in which protects are set,    image files which can be stored in the memory 72 are selected    prioritizing an image file having a large (small) file size.

It is considered that an image file having a near recording data or animage file having a large size is frequently used. On the other hand,when the image files are stored (backup) in ascending order, many imagefiles can be stored.

In the embodiment, method 1 described above is applied as a method ofselecting an image file. By the processes in step 310, step 312, andstep 314, the image files which are stored in the memory card 82 and inwhich protects are set are maximally stored (backup) in the unusedcapacity of the memory 72.

In step 316, the memory card 82 is formatted. In the next step 318, bythe processes in step 310 or step 314, the image files backup to thememory 72 are stored in the memory card 82. Thereafter, the CPU 50 endsthis format processing program to return to step 200 (also see FIGS. 6Aand 6B).

As described above in detail, in the digital camera 10 according to theembodiment, when instruction information for instructing the loadedmemory card 82 to initialize (format) is input, after image files whichare recorded on the memory card 82 and which are prohibited from beingerased are stored in the memory 72, the memory card 82 is initialized.Thereafter, the image files stored in the memory 72 are recorded on thememory card 82. For this reason, when the memory card 82 on which theimage files which are prohibited from being erased is loaded, and whenthe memory card 82 is instructed to initialize, the image files can beprevented from inadvertently erased.

In the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment, when all imagefiles which are prohibited from being erased cannot be stored in thememory 72 due to a lack of storage capacity of the memory 72, imagefiles which have been selected on the basis of a predetermined priorityorder are stored in the memory 72. For this reason, even though thestorage capacity of the memory 72 is short, image files the ranks ofwhich are highly ranked in the predetermined priority order can bestored in the memory 72, and the image files can be prevented from beinginadvertently erased.

The second embodiment describes the case in which, when the unusedcapacity of the memory 72 is short, image files in which protects areset are backup in a predetermined priority order without giving anynotification to a user. However, the invention is not limited to thisconfiguration. For example, a user may be notified that the unusedcapacity of the memory 72 is short. This configuration enables a user torecognize that all image files in which protects are set cannot be held,and leaves room for reconsidering execution of initialization.

Each of these embodiments describes the case in which a Compact Flash isapplied as a recording medium of the invention. However, the inventionis not limited to the recording medium. For example, a Smart Media, anSD card, a memory stick, a Microdrive, and the like can be applied as amatter of course. In this case, the same effect as that in each of theembodiments can be achieved.

Furthermore, the flows of processes of various processing programsdescribed in the embodiments (see FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B,and FIG. 7) are only examples. These flows can be appropriately changedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided adigital camera, onto which a recording medium can be loaded, said mediumcapable of recording photographed data and prohibiting recorded imagedata from being erased, comprising: an initialization instruction unitfor instructing the loaded recording medium to initialize; and anotification unit for performing a predetermined notification operationthat notifies that initialization will be executed, wherein thenotification unit performs the predetermined notification operation whenthe recording medium is instructed to initialize by the initializationinstruction unit, if image data, which is prohibited from being erased,is recorded on the recording medium.

In this manner, in the digital camera according to the first aspect ofthe invention, when the recording medium is instructed to initialize bythe initialization instruction unit, if image data, which is prohibitedfrom being erased, is recorded on the recording medium, thepredetermined notification operation is performed. For this reason, whenthe recording medium is loaded, said medium capable of recording theimage data, which is prohibited from being erased and the recordingmedium is instructed to initialize, the image data can be prevented frombeing inadvertently erased.

In the digital camera according to the first aspect of the invention,the recording medium may have image erasure prohibition information forimage data, which is prohibited from being erased.

In the digital camera according to the first aspect of the invention,the image data may be prohibited from being erased in units ofphotographed images.

The digital camera according to the first aspect of the inventionfurther comprises an erasure prohibition information detection unit. Theerasure prohibition information detection unit may perform a detectionoperation for detecting the presence or absence of image erasureprohibition information in the loaded recording medium when therecording medium is instructed to initialize by the initializationinstruction unit, and may cause the notification unit to perform apredetermined notification operation when a recording medium having theimage erasure prohibition information is detected.

The digital camera according to the first aspect of the inventionfurther comprises a liquid crystal display. The notification operationfor notifying that initialization will be executed, in response to theinstruction information, may be performed by displaying a message on theliquid crystal display indicating that initialization will be executed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided adigital camera, onto which a recording medium can be loaded, said mediumcapable of recording photographed image data and prohibiting therecorded image data from being erased, comprising: an initializationinstruction unit for instructing the loaded recording medium toinitialize; a storage unit which can store the image data; and aninitialization unit for initializing the recording medium, wherein, whenthe recording medium is instructed to initialize by the initializationinstruction unit, if image data which is recorded on the recordingmedium is prohibited from being erased, the image data which isprohibited from being erased is stored in the storage unit, theinitialization unit initializes the recording medium, and then, theimage data stored in the storage unit is recorded onto the recordingmedium.

In this manner, in the digital camera according to the second aspect ofthe invention, when the recording medium is instructed to initialize bythe initialization instruction unit, image data which is recorded on therecording medium is prohibited from being erased, the image data whichis prohibited from being erased is stored in the storage unit, and theinitialization unit initializes the recording medium. For this reason,when the recording medium, which is capable of recording the image dataand prohibiting recorded image data from being erased, is loaded, andwhen the recording medium is instructed to initialize, the image datacan be prevented from being inadvertently erased.

The digital camera according to the second aspect of the inventionfurther comprises an image data backup unit. When the loaded recordingmedium is instructed to initialize by the initialization instructionunit, the image data backup unit may store image data, which is recordedon the recording medium and is prohibited from being erased, in thestorage unit prior to execution of the initialization of the recordingmedium by the initialization unit, and the image data backup unit maytransfer the image data stored in the storage unit so as to record theimage data on the recording medium after the recording medium isinitialized by the initialization unit.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect of the invention,the initialization unit may have an image data capacity detection unit.When the recording medium is instructed to initialize by theinitialization instruction unit, the image data capacity detection unitmay detect an unused capacity of the storage unit and may add volumes ofthe image data, which is prohibited from being erased to each other,and, on the basis of the unused capacity and the value of the addedvolumes, may determine whether all the pieces of image data which areprohibited from being erased can be stored in the storage unit.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect of the invention,when the determination result is affirmative, the initialization unitmay store all the pieces of image data which are prohibited from beingerased in the storage unit.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect of the invention,when the determination result is negative, the initialization unit maystore image data, selected on the basis of a predetermined priorityorder corresponding to the image data in the storage unit.

In this manner, when all the pieces of image data which are prohibitedfrom being erased cannot be stored in the storage unit due to a lack ofstorage capacity of the storage unit, image data, selected on the basisof the predetermined priority order corresponding to the image data, isstored in the storage unit. For this reason, even though the storagecapacity of the storage unit is short, image data which is highly rankedin the predetermined priority order in response to the image data can bestored in the storage unit, and the image data can be prevented frombeing inadvertently erased.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect of the invention, anotification unit for notifying that, when the determination result isnegative, all the pieces of image data which are prohibited from beingerased cannot be stored in the storage unit may be provided.

In the digital camera according to the second aspect of the invention,the image data recorded onto the recording medium may have dateinformation indicating the date on which the image data was recordedonto the recording medium, and the priority order is determined based onthe recorded date.

According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of preventing image data from being erased in a digital camera,which is configured such that a recording medium can be loaded, saidmedium capable of recording photographed image data and prohibitingrecorded image data from being erased, comprising: a step of instructingthe loaded recording medium to initialize; and a step of performing apredetermined notification operation on the basis of the initializationinstruction when image data, which is prohibited from being erased, isrecorded onto the recording medium.

In this manner, when the recording medium onto which the image datawhich is prohibited from being erased is recorded is loaded, and whenthe recording medium is instructed to initialize, the image data can beprevented from being inadvertently erased.

The method of preventing image data from being erased according to thethird aspect of the invention, the image data may be prohibited frombeing erased in units of photographed images.

In the method of preventing image data from being erased according tothe third aspect of the invention, the recording medium may have imageerasure prohibition information corresponding to the image data, and thestep of performing the predetermined notification operation includes thestep of performing a detection operation, for detecting the presence orabsence of a recording medium having the image erasure preventioninformation, on the basis of the initialization instruction of therecording medium.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of preventing image data from being erased in a digital camera,onto which a recording medium can be loaded, said medium capable ofrecording photographed image data and prohibiting recorded image datafrom being erased, and which has a storage unit which can store theimage data, comprising: a step of instructing the loaded recordingmedium to initialize; a step of storing image data, which is prohibitedfrom being erased, in the storage unit on the basis of theinitialization instruction of the recording medium when the image datarecorded on the recording medium is prohibited from being erased, a stepof initializing the recording medium; and a step of recording the imagedata stored in the storage unit onto the recording medium.

In this manner, when the recording medium onto which the image datawhich is prohibited from being erased is recorded is loaded, and whenthe recording medium is instructed to initialize, the image data can beprevented from being inadvertently erased.

In the method of preventing image data from being erased according tothe fourth aspect of the invention, the step of storing the image data,which is recorded on the recording medium and is prohibited from beingerased, in the storage unit further includes the step of determiningwhether all pieces of image data, which are prohibited from beingerased, can be stored in the storage unit when the recording medium isinstructed to initialize; and the determination may be performed suchthat, after an unused capacity of the storage unit is detected andvolumes of the pieces of image data, which are prohibited from beingerased, are added to each other, the value of the added volumes and thetotal amount of unused capacity are compared with each other.

In the method of preventing image data from being erased according tothe fourth aspect of the invention, when the determination result isaffirmative, all the pieces of image data that are prohibited from beingerased may be stored in the storage unit.

In the method of preventing image data from being erased according tothe fourth aspect of the invention, when the determination result isnegative, image data selected on the basis of a predetermined priorityorder corresponding to the image data may be stored in the storage unit.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of preventing image data from being erased in a digital camera,onto which a recording medium can be loaded, said medium capable ofrecording photographed image data and prohibiting the recorded imagedata from being erased, and which has a storage unit which can store theimage data, comprising: a step of instructing the loaded recordingmedium to initialize; a step of determining whether all pieces of imagedata, which are prohibited from being erased, can be stored in thestorage unit on the basis of the initialization instruction of therecording medium if image data is prohibited from being erased; and astep of performing a predetermined notification operation when thedetermination result is negative, wherein the determination is performedsuch that, after an unused capacity of the storage unit is detected andvolumes of the pieces of image data, which are prohibited from beingerased, are added to each other, the value of the added volumes and thetotal amount of unused capacity are compared with each other.

In this manner, even though the storage capacity of the storage unit isshort, image data which is highly ranked in a predetermined priorityorder corresponding to the image data can be stored in the storage unit,and the image data can be prevented from being inadvertently erased.

1. A digital camera, onto which a recording medium can be loaded, saidmedium capable of recording photographed image data and prohibitingrecorded image data from being erased, comprising: a format instructionunit for instructing the loaded recording medium to format; a storageunit which can store the recorded image data; and a format unit forformatting the recording medium, wherein, when the recording medium isinstructed to format by the format instruction unit, if recorded imagedata which is recorded on the recording medium is prohibited from beingerased, the recorded image data which is prohibited from being erased isstored in the storage unit, after which, the format unit formats therecording medium, and then, the recorded image data stored in thestorage unit is recorded onto the recording medium.
 2. A digital cameraaccording to claim 1, further comprising an image data backup unit,wherein when the recording medium is instructed to format by the formatinstruction unit, the image data backup unit stores image data, which isrecorded on the recording medium and is prohibited from being erased, inthe storage unit prior to execution of the formatting of the recordingmedium by the format unit, and the image data backup unit transfers theimage data stored in the storage unit so as to record the image data onthe recording medium after the recording medium is formatted by theformat unit.
 3. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein theformat unit has an image data capacity detection unit, wherein when therecording medium is instructed to format by the format instruction unit,the image data capacity detection unit detects an unused capacity of thestorage unit and adds volumes of the image data, which is prohibitedfrom being erased, to each other, and, on the basis of the unusedcapacity and the value of the added volumes, determines whether all thepieces of image data which are prohibited from being erased can bestored in the storage unit.
 4. A digital camera according to claim 3,wherein when the determination result is affirmative, the format unitstores all the pieces of image data which are prohibited from beingerased in the storage unit.
 5. A digital camera according to claim 3,wherein when the determination result is negative, the format unitstores image data, selected on the basis of a predetermined priorityorder corresponding to the image data, in the storage unit.
 6. A digitalcamera according to claim 3, comprising a notification unit fornotifying that, when the determination result is negative, all thepieces of image data which are prohibited from being erased cannot bestored in the storage unit.
 7. A digital camera according to claim 5,wherein the image data recorded onto the recording medium has dateinformation indicating the date on which the image data was recordedonto the recording medium, and the priority order is determined based onthe recorded date.
 8. A method of preventing image data from beingerased in a digital camera, onto which a recording medium can be loaded,said medium capable of recording photographed image data and prohibitingrecorded image data from being erased, and which has a storage unitwhich can store the image data, comprising: a step of instructing theloaded recording medium to format; a step of storing recorded imagedata, which is prohibited from being erased, in the storage unit on thebasis of the format instruction of the recording medium when therecorded image data recorded on the recording medium is prohibited frombeing erased; a step of formatting the recording medium; and a step ofrecording the recorded image data stored in the storage unit onto therecording medium.
 9. A method of preventing image data from being erasedaccording to claim 8, wherein the step of storing the image data, whichis recorded on the recording medium and is prohibited from being erased,in the storage unit further includes the step of determining whether allpieces of image data, which are prohibited from being erased, can bestored in the storage unit when the recording medium is instructed toformat, and the determination is performed such that, after an unusedcapacity of the storage unit is detected and volumes of the pieces ofimage data, which are prohibited from being erased, are added to eachother, the value of the added volumes and the total amount of unusedcapacity are compared with each other.
 10. A method of preventing imagedata from being erased according to claim 9, wherein when thedetermination result is affirmative, all the pieces of image data thatare prohibited from being erased are stored in the storage unit.
 11. Amethod of preventing image data from being erased according to claim 9,wherein when the determination result is negative, image data selectedon the basis of a predetermined priority order corresponding to theimage data are stored in the storage unit.
 12. A method of preventingimage data from being erased in a digital camera, onto which a recordingmedium can be loaded, said medium capable of recording photographedimage data and prohibiting recorded image data from being erased, andwhich has a storage unit which can store the image data, comprising: astep of instructing the loaded recording medium to format; a step ofdetermining whether all pieces of recorded image data, which areprohibited from being erased, can be stored in the storage unit on thebasis of the format instruction of the recording medium if the recordedimage data is prohibited from being erased; and a step of performing apredetermined notification operation when the determination result isnegative, wherein the determination is performed such that, after anunused capacity of the storage unit is detected and volumes of thepieces of recorded image data, which are prohibited from being erased,are added to each other, the value of the added volumes and the totalamount of unused capacity are compared with each other.